After studying the black box recorder, experts declined to comment but confirmed they had submitted their initial report to accident investigators

The findings were revealed after initial analysis of the plane’s black box recorders, following the atrocity which killed 298.

Andriy Lysenko, of the Ukraine Security Council, said: “Data from flight recorders show that the reason for the destruction and crash of the plane was massive ­explosive decompression arising from multiple shrapnel perforations from a rocket explosion.”

Experts from the laboratory in Farnborough who examined the evidence declined to comment but confirmed they had submitted their initial report to accident investigators.

The Dutch authorities, who are co-ordinating the inquiry, said they hoped a full report would be released by the end of this week.

There was continued fighting around the crash scene today between Ukraine troops and Russian rebels .